Learn from September’s Month Awareness why Fruits & Vegetables should be Incorporated in Every Meal

September is right around the corner, which means that children are getting ready in their best outfits for the first day back at school! While having a snazzy outfit is important, something else that improves your appearance is your smile. Scheduling a check-up appointment is only half the battle—what’s essential to make sure that your children are eating the right foods for lunch to maintain their healthy teeth.

To help promote better foods for children, September is Fruits & Veggies—More Matters Month! Throughout the upcoming month, we want patients to know how important it is to integrate multiple fruits and vegetables into your everyday diet to lessen the risks of diseases for the young and old.

Snacking is one of the most harmful activities that children partake in. Although it’s important for children to eat more than three times a day (because they need more energy than adults), many children eat snacks like chips, pretzels, candies and more that are harmful to their teeth. Since their teeth are still growing, they’re more susceptible to cavities and other dental issues.

A great substitute for children’s harmful snacks is fruits and vegetables! They’re just as convenient to pack as a travel-sized chip bag and they work to clean, strengthen and improve your child’s smile. Try giving your children these snacks so they’re able to get the right energy without any consequences:

· Celery and carrots: Both crunchy and delicious, these raw vegetables work to strengthen your children’s teeth since there’s more jaw movement to properly break them down.

· Apples and pears: These sweet fruits are also crunchy and naturally hold water in them so your children’s mouth will be refreshed while also working with their teeth! They also clean their teeth and help loosen any lingering, harmful food particles from their previous meals.